From Rua do Saco in São Miguel to the United States to Cascais, Portugal ... it's a small world!

In his comments to my post "A walk around my old neighborhood in São Miguel", my brother described our neighbors on either side of our house and across the street.  Here is a picture of him and our playmate Lisete who lived across the street.  The picture was taken in  1952. 

We've all heard and said the expression "It's a small world" to describe the situation of people from distant places who happen to meet each other.

Lisete had two older brothers but my brother and I  had little interaction with them because of the difference in our ages.  We left Rua do Saco in São Miguel in 1960 and eventually lost contact with Lisete.

In 1992, I came to settle in Cascais with my family.  A couple of years later at a 4th of July bash thrown by the then American Ambassador, I met a woman (Ana) who as it turned out used to live in Attleboro on the first floor of the doubledecker where my cousins lived after moving there from São Miguel.  I remember jumping rope with her in their yard.  We had not seen each other since our teens when I use to go visit my cousins.  Ana and I became friends.

My daughter and her son were in the same class at the old American School in Carnaxide.   When her son's birthday came around, my daughter was invited to the party.  As I was leaving the house, a couple was arriving to drop off their son.  Ana said to me, "and here's another one from São Miguel" as she introduced me to the man.  I told him I was from Ponta Delgada and he said, "me too".  Then I told him I lived on Rua do Saco and he said "me too".   Then I told him that across the street from us lived a girl named Lisete, and he said, "that's my sister"!  Henrique told me he remembered as a little girl but I didn't remember him at all.  He told me that Lisete had already died.

Henrique and his family have become dear friends since that chance meeting many years ago.  It has become a tradition for our families to celebrate Christmas day together.

It's a small world and you never know who from the past will cross your path.